Wildfire Update

Posted by MYETX

Wildfire update – July 27, 2011

Current situation:

· Texas Forest Service responded yesterday to one new large fire in Stephens County.

· Fire danger remains elevated across Texas. Heat advisories are in effect for Northeast, North and portions of Northwest Texas. In addition to temperatures over 100 degrees, heat index values are expected at or above 105 in some areas.

STEGALL, Pecos County. 4,150 acres, 10 percent contained. Burning actively in grass and brush, minimal road access. A task force, hand crew, SEATs, airtankers and an air attack responded, no current threats or evacuations. This fire is burning 10 miles north of Sanderson.Weather Outlook:

Surface high pressure will remain over the northern Gulf of Mexico today with a trough of low pressure over the Panhandle. The pressure gradient between this trough and the high to the east will support south to southeast winds at the 20-foot level in the 10 to 15 mph range with gusts up to 25 mph in an arc from Deep South Texas northward into the Permian Basin and Panhandle. Elsewhere, winds will be light and generally from the south to southeast. Temperatures will again soar into the 100 to 105 degree range across most of the state, with some 105 to 110 readings possible in the North and Northwest Branches. Afternoon relative humidity will bottom out in the teens over most of the North, West and Northwest Branches, ranging up to above 30 percent over East Branch. Thunderstorm activity will be centered on the southern half of East Branch where scattered activity is anticipated during the afternoon. Otherwise, isolated thunderstorms are possible over the rest of East Branch, South Central Branch and over the Trans Pecos region.